One of the greatest health issues of the twenty first century is the condition called diabetes. Diabetes is the health condition where the body is either unable to produce the hormone insulin or has become resistant to its naturally produced insulin. When the body is unable to produce insulin or becomes insulin resistant, blood glucose levels increase in the bloodstream. This would lead to many health complications in the individual in the long run.
When these glucose levels are high, they cause renal issues and cardiovascular problems in the individual. Also, without insulin, the body is unable to utilize blood glucose, which is the fuel for cell functions. Without such fuel, the cells are unable to function properly and eventually die, leading to organ distress and failure.
Many dismiss the saying that eating too much sugar would cause diabetes as an old wives tale. This may partially be true, as sugar when processed by the body becomes blood glucose. This though is not the only source of blood glucose. Eating too much, especially high carbohydrate food, without activity to burn the retained blood glucose would lead to excess levels retained in the blood stream. This is often what happens with obese individuals and the condition they develop is called Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus or onset diabetes.
If an individual develops Type 2 Diabetes, then the risk of acquiring health complications increases. These include cardiovascular problems, renal failure, diabetes retinopathy, slow healing from injuries and cuts and other health problems. It is thus imperative to undertake lifestyle changes in order to prevent the onset of Type 2 diabetes. The following are the ways to manage your sugar intake in order to prevent the development of diabetes:
- Lower the intake of sugar in the food eaten during the day;
- Lower the volume of food eaten during the day;
- Undertake a regular exercise regimen;
- Avoid skipping meals or snacks;
- Have regular check ups especially blood sugar level checks.
Diabetes does not occur overnight. It is the accumulation of blood glucose in the bloodstream due to high sugar and carbohydrate diets without the proper avenues in order to expend this accumulated energy sources. Often, high blood glucose levels would be discovered during ordinary blood testing. When the blood glucose levels are high, it is often called borderline diabetes. Depending upon the age and the weight of the individual, proper blood glucose levels would be determined to see if the individual is already a diabetic or a borderline case.
Sugar plays a major role in the development of diabetes in the individual. Too many sweets in the diet together with a problematic insulin delivery system and a poor exercise regimen can definitely result in the development of diabetes in an individual. The congruence of all these factors can lead to problems with an individual’s overall health and well being. Thus, managing your sweet tooth, doing more exercise and eating healthy food would help in keeping your body healthy and prevent the development of diabetes in your system.
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